News Headlines
- IMF conditions have been fulfilled – BiH Federation House of Peoples holds session and adopts two finance laws
- European Commission to finance reconstruction of two bridges in Bosanski Samac and Brcko
- Large-scale privatization in BiH Federation to start with purchase of Cement Factory in Kakanj by German Company Heidlberg Cement
- BiH Federation Government decides to rise price of diesel fuel and petroleum derivatives
- NATO did not forget about BiH – NATO in Brussels prior to Robertson’s visit to Zagreb
- International news
- French KFOR establishes new checkpoint at Ibar River in Kosovska Mitrovica
- NATO to augment KFOR with two additional battalions, French and Italian
- NATO to remain in Kosovo in spite of pending conflicts in Kosovska Mitrovica
- International news
- Stability Pact Main Coordinator Bodo Hombach expects to receive first $1 billion for realization of quick-start projects
- Voter ballots sent by mail to more than 213,000 out-of-country voters – OSCE presentation on voting procedure
- Civil Initiative centers and network of BiH NGOs to organize non-party affiliated monitoring of elections
- BiH Central Bank opens new office in Banja Luka
- BiH Telecom Agency Administrative Board adopts plan for new area codes in BiH – OHR
- There are still no concrete results in investigation into Leutar assassination – BiH Federation Deputy Interior Ministry Bacak
- Head of Tomislavgrad Municipal Urban Planning Office Rados resigns
- Tuzla Polihem Company employees start strike on Wednesday
- Bosniak returnees to village Glinja appeals on IC organizations for donations to ease difficult living conditions
- Central festival of Bajram celebration to be held at Begova Mosque in Sarajevo
- Deputy Head of BiH Islamic Community Ismet Spahic sends Bairam greetings
- Izetbegovic, Kurtovic, Kreso, Bicakcic and Covic address greetings for Bajram holiday
- Mesic addresses Bairam greetings to BiH Muslims
- Bajram Mevlud Organizational Board holds press conference
- Sports
- Weather
- RS Government adopts set of labor-related laws
- Croatian firm Agrokor plans to invest DEM 80 million in BiH
- Head of UNHCR Office to Mostar leaving BiH for new duties in Kosovo
- Working Group for Return discontent with implementation of property laws in Banja Luka
- Rotation of command of Italian SFOR brigade
- Zenica-Doboj Canton Government urges officials holding multiple duties to choose one from among them
- UN Mission to BiH not informed of resignation of HN Canton Interior Minister
- EC continues financing campaign against landmines in the world
- SFOR holds de-mining seminar for five BiH Federation Army and two RS Army members
- Promotion of handbook ‘The Right to be Different’ that will aid in the development of media in BiH
- Report on the Sarajevo Winter Festival
News Summary
IMF conditions have been fulfilled – BiH Federation House of Peoples holds session and adopts two finance laws
The BiH Federation House of Peoples at Wednesday’s session adopted two finance laws to meet an IMF deadline. This completes the review of the second of two stand-by arrangements with the IMF that is worth about 300 million DM. The House’s adoption will allow the continuation of support for BiH economic reforms. The House of Peoples adopted a new tax on tobacco products, 35% instead of the to-date 40% tax. BiH Federation Prime Minister Edhem Bicakcic stated that this represents the first step towards the construction of common tax policy in BiH. The next step is to determine the points of payment where revenues from this tax will be paid as well as carrying out the reform of the entire tax system. The BiH House of Peoples delayed until its next session discussion on amendments to the Law on Taxes on Company Profits. The House obliged the BiH Federation Government to prepare a report on the problems student are having and the consequences of SFOR activities at the Barbara training center, near Glamoc, and other areas in BiH as well.
01:57
UN Mission to BiH not informed of resignation of HN Canton Interior Minister
The UN Mission to BiH has received no document to prove that HN Canton Interior Minister Dragan Mandic had resigned from his post, UN spokesman Stefo Lehmann told a press conference in Mostar on Wednesday. Lehmann confirmed that the three police chiefs of the Mostar Croat-majority municipalities have not returned to their duties, which they abandoned on the day of the street rallies in Mostar protesting the sentence to General Blaskic. According to Lehmann, this issue is affecting the Croat people. However, it is up to them to decide whether they want to have a professional police force or one that is controlled by politicians. Croat officials in BiH have intentionally caused this situation, Lehmann stated. He added that such behavior is irresponsible and devastating for the BiH Croats. Lehmann warned the aforementioned police officials will, if they do not return to their duties, lose the right permanently to carrying out police duties.
01:32